Individual and Public-Program Adaptation: Coping with Heat Waves in Five Cities in Canada

Abstract

Heat Alert and Response Systems (HARS) are currently undergoing testing and implementation in Canada. These programs seek to reduce the adverse health effects of heat waves on human health by issuing weather forecasts and warnings, informing individuals about possible protections from excessive heat, and providing such protections to vulnerable subpopulations and individuals at risk. For these programs to be designed effectively, it is important to know how individuals perceive the heat, what their experience with heat-related illness is, how they protect themselves from excessive heat, and how they acquire information about such protections. In September 2010, we conducted a survey of households in 5 cities in Canada to study these issues. At the time of the survey, these cities had not implemented heat outreach and response systems. The study results indicate that individuals’ recollections of recent heat wave events were generally accurate. About 21% of the sample reported feeling unwell during the most recent heat spell, but these illnesses were generally minor. Only in 25 cases out of 243, these illnesses were confirmed or diagnosed by a health care professional. The rate at which our respondents reported heat-related illnesses was higher among those with cardiovascular and respiratory illnesses, was higher among younger respondents and bore no relationship with the availability of air conditioning at home. Most of the respondents indicated that they would not dismiss themselves as “not at risk” and that they would cope with excessive heat by staying in air conditioned environments and keeping well hydrated. Despite the absence of heat outreach and education programs in their city, our respondents at least a rough idea of how to take care of themselves. The presence of air conditioning and knowledge of cooling centers is location-specific, which provides opportunities for targeting HARS interventions.

Neighbourhood and dwelling characteristics associated with the self-reported adverse health effects of heat in most deprived urban areas: A cross-sectional study in 9 cities

“…A long-term absence from work due to a disease or handicap could be a sufficiently powerful factor to explain their reasons for consultation in a heat-related context. We could find only one similar report linking heat and mental stress, although coming from the occupational health sector in Thailand (Alberini et al, 2011;Tawatsupa et al, 2010). However, neither sex nor age nor air conditioning in the dwelling was associated with the prevalence of heat-related health effects having led to consultation of a health professional.…”

“…We could find only one such study, also conducted in 2010 in Canada by web questionnaire (Alberini et al, 2011). These 1141 households contacted by Alberini et al were from five cities from several provinces (but not including Québec) presenting various climates and covering all social classes.…”

Racial and Socioeconomic Disparities in Heat-Related Health Effects and Their Mechanisms: a Review

“…[36] Most respondents in Canadian studies did perceive heat as a personal risk and also reported that they would take actions to stay cool during extreme heat. [40, 98] Finally, the perceived risk of heat was not predictive of air conditioning use among residents with poor cardio-respiratory health in Montreal[37] suggesting that low perceived risk is not always a barrier to staying cool.…”

“…[103, 104] However, air conditioning ownership was not associated with self-reported heat illness in a study in Canada. [40] As discussed above, having the cognitive and financial abilities to operate the air conditioner is also important.…”

A Five-Steps Methodology to Design Communication Formats That Can Contribute to Behavior Change

“…Although one study (Alberini et al, 2011) does not detect such a lack of self-perception as vulnerable, the majority of studies indicate that older people are probably difficult to reach by communication formats on heat-related health risks, which led to low ratings for the elderly regarding Criterion 8. As many of them, due to their lack of self-perception as vulnerable, do not see any need to read or listen to heat-related communication measures, these measures would have no or only a minor effect on their risk awareness or behavior (cf.…”